Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has urged the Church in Latin America to stand alongside families suffering from substance abuse, violence, poverty and a lack of opportunities, saying the Church must help those who are struggling to recover and rebuild their lives.
The Pope made the appeal on Thursday during a meeting with participants in an initiative of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America focused on “Addiction in Latin America”. The meeting brought together people from faith based centres involved in the prevention, recovery and social reintegration of young people affected by drugs.
Pope Leo highlighted four areas of cooperation in the fight against substance abuse. He said the Church works with international organisations, including the Organization of American States and the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops’ Council, particularly in training people who serve in faith based community organisations.
He also stressed the importance of cooperation between science and faith. The Church, he said, does not seek to compete with fields such as neuroscience, psychiatry or public health. Instead, it seeks to bring an understanding of the human person shaped by the Gospel to the response to addiction.
The Pope also described the Church as a bridge connecting people across continents who share a concern for those affected by addiction. Participants from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas came together to share their experiences, hopes and pastoral commitment.
Another important bridge, he said, is the common language of faith shared by the Church and other ecclesial communities. This faith, he explained, should lead to practical care and love for people suffering from addiction.
Pope Leo placed particular emphasis on the role of the family, describing it as the “domestic Church”. He said the family is where life is nurtured, cared for and guided, and described a good family as the strongest protection against drugs.
At the same time, the Pope acknowledged the suffering experienced by many families. He pointed to drug use, violence, the criminal recruitment of children, poverty and the lack of opportunities as factors that can leave families broken and push people to the margins of society.
Recalling Pope Francis’ call to reach out to people in human suffering, Pope Leo encouraged the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and everyone working in the field of addiction to remain close to those in need.
He called for a Church that stops to help, draws near to people, responds with compassion, cares for wounds, provides nourishment and offers a place that feels like home.